Every year I go to California Brazil Camp, driving down from Seattle. Here is what I have found most useful to pack.

Before You Leave

• Get a haircut
• Trim nails
• Print out camping form
• Print out liability form, sign it

Tenting at Camp

• Tent
• Sheets
• Blanket
• Pillow
• Super-comfy sleeping pad + pump
• Power strip + extension cord

The Essentials

• Water bottle
• Flashlight + spare batteries
• Clothes for a week. Don’t expect to do laundry there
  • Shorts
  • Nerdy T-shirts
  • Sandals
  • Something fancy-ish for forró night
  • White bottoms if performing in a bateria
• Layers. Handle temps from 50 to 100.
• Phone + charger
• Audio recorder + spare batteries
• Laptop + charger
• Credit/debit card
• $40 cash per week
• Pens + paper for notes
• “Gig Bag” backpack

Instruments

• Instruments. For me, that means:
  • Caixa + spare strings
  • Repique
  • Tamborim
  • Pandeiro
  • Timbal
  • 3rd Surdo
  • Sometimes – Alfaia, Gongue, Agogo, Rebolo
• Straps
• Sticks + mallets, plus extras
• Earplugs
• Salve / bandages / skin tape
• Stick bag

Toiletries

• Razor + mirror
• Towel + washcloth
• Baby wipes (super important, it gets dusty)
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo (travel bottles)
• Sunscreen (not in my case)

For Your Group

• Shirts/hats from your band, to sell at the camp store
• Business cards + stickers, to give away
• Band/group shirts, for you to wear in the camp photo

Make It Special

• Hammock + straps/stand <- many of my favorite memories come from this
• Cooler + ice + beer. Bring some to share.
• Caipirinha supplies (cachaça, limes, superfine baker’s sugar, sharp knife, drink muddler, pint glass, drink shaker)
• Strings of lights (make your tent/cabin fancy!)

Other People’s Suggestions

• Folding music stands
• Printed sheet music
• Checkbook
• Coffee + filter
• Warm clothes (muffler, sweater, knit hat)
• Extra socks
• Clip-on light
• Fold-up laundry rack
• Dark chocolate
• Contraceptives
• Flask

Dev is a data scientist, musician, an an aspiring polymath who lives in Seattle, WA.

Contact:

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Email: me@DevNambi.com

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